A/N – I knew you'd hate me! ::pokes Jori right back:: I am 'fixing' it. And I have no doubts about the angry mob of readers, Katie. You wouldn't even have to get them all together, lol. Thanks for the reviews either way. I hope this chapter is better to your liking.

And just so you know, it's getting confusing having Sydney call Vaughn, Michael. I keep typing Vaughn by mistake (so if you see a Vaughn in there somewhere, just yell at me)

Sydney's POV

                It took me about three seconds to register that Will had just kissed me. Then it took another two to push him off me and onto the floor.

                "What the hell are you doing?" I stared down at him. The movie was now suddenly hurting my ears, so I grabbed the remote and slammed my finger on the power button, watching as the TV did 'bloop' and turned into blackness.

                "I don't know… kissing you?" Will sounded a little angry, but he had no right to be! I had the right to be mad at him.

                "Well, did you even think that maybe I don't like you in that way?" I knew that I was being a little bit harsh and blind (not really sure about the blind part) but he had it coming.

                "Yes. But I decided to anyway." He was sitting up now and his voice was softer.

                "Well…" I changed my tone of voice, to a softer and nicer level. "You're brave, I'll give you that." I told him with a small smile.

                "Yeah, I always liked that about myself." He smiled softly and laughed. "I'm such a jerk." He laughed again.

                "That too." I laughed with him. "God, that was so stupid." I muttered, standing up and walking into the kitchen.

                "Agreed completely." Will stood and followed me. He looked around and then squinted. "Where'd Michael's beeper go?"

                "I don't know." I looked on all of the counters." Okay, I stood right here and put it right there saying that I'd give it back to him tomorrow." I narrowed my eyes. "That's really strange. I'll look for it." I smiled at Will. Strange how it didn't seem awkward between us. "I think you better get going." I opened the door and followed him outside.

                "I'll see ya Sydney." He waved and then started to walk away.

                I went inside the house and searched the tables and counters for Michael's beeper. When I finished I shrugged. I'll tell him about it tomorrow. Maybe he'll help look for it.

                "Hey Sydney." Dad walked into the house. "Have a good night?" He threw his jacket on the chair.

                "Almost perfect." I smirked and went to my room.

                I'll talk to Michael tomorrow. But talking would be the last thing he wanted to do…

Vaughn's POV

                Anger. That was my first instinct when I saw her at her locker. I didn't know if I should avoid her or just go on with a regular day and wait for gym to come, then decide what to do.

                I passed her, without letting her see me, and went to my own locker. I listened as the bell rang and watched as people ran to their sixth period class. I was supposed to go straight to the study hall… my English teacher wanted me to finish a report that had been due yesterday.

                I brought the note my English teacher had written to the teacher in the study hall and then got my books out to continue writing.

                That's about when I heard soft laughter coming from a table a few from mine. Looking up, I frowned as I watched Sydney, Will and Francie talk softly… the teacher 'shushing' them a few times.

                Quickly, I pulled my chair out and sat. The papers fluttered a bit as I picked up my pencil to start writing.

                "Francie…" I heard Sydney whisper, ten minutes later, as I looked over my notes. "It's Michael…" I felt all of their eyes piercing me. I shook it off, shivering.

                I heard a chair pull from a table and looked up to see Sydney right in front of me.

                "Hey." She whispered sitting across from me. "What're you doing in here?" She smiled softly, but I wasn't going to let her smile save everything.

                "Finishing a report." I nodded to the papers in front of me. "One more paragraph and I'm out of here." I said harshly.

                "Well… why don't you finish that later and come talk to us?" Her smile radiated and I shook my head slightly… I was almost finished, just one last sentence.

                "Can't… gotta finish this." I continued writing and finally got the last word down on the paper.

                Her hand went over my report and she leaned closer. "What's wrong?" Her breath fluttered the papers and her hair that had fallen over her eyes.

                "Nothing." I snapped, pushing her hands away. I packed up all my things and stood up. "I'll just be going now… leave you guys alone." I pulled my books to my side and ran my other hand through my hair. The doors stood open and I walked through them quickly, leaning against the wall when I got into the hallway. I never got so angry at someone… I never wanted someone that I couldn't have so badly… I never wanted to feel this way… I just… did.

Sydney's POV

                I wondered about what had happened all throughout the rest of sixth period and both seventh and eighth. Francie and Will tried to snap me out of it, but it wasn't going to work. At times I'd smile and laugh along with their jokes, but something bugged me about what had gone on in study hall… and I'm always one to trust my instincts.

                I smiled as me and Francie changed into our gym clothes. Laughing at jokes was easy… especially when they are funny.

                "Hey, so what happened after me and Michael left the other night?" Francie looked over to me as she pulled her shirt over her head.

                "Pretty much nothing…" I threw my clothes in my locker and shut it. "Will and I decided not to watch the movie and he had to go home… Oh, that reminds me… I have to tell Michael that I can't find his beeper…"

                "What are you talking about?" Francie squinted, confused. "When me and Michael left he realized about his beeper and ran back to get it." I looked over to Francie and shook my head. "Really. He even caught up with me again and he had the beeper in his hand." Francie smiled slightly. "The guy can run fast, let me tell you that."

                "You mean he took his beeper." I snapped the lock shut on my locker and stood up, the blood rushed to my head and the locker room spun around me.

                "I guess… He didn't tell me what happened when he got to your house… only that he got his beeper and left." Francie looked at me strangely.

                "Oh my god." I put my hand over my mouth. Francie looked at me and started toward me. "Oh my god… I have to talk to Michael… Meet me in the gym when you're done." I ran out of the locker room and toward the gym before she could answer.

                If he saw Will and me… kissing… then my life was over right there. If he thought that me and Will were… oh god… I can't even think about that.

                I opened the gym doors and looked around. The guys were already in the gym and so were some girls.

                Will came over to me and frowned. "What's the matter?"

                I shook my head. "Where's Michael? I have to talk with him…" I looked around quickly.

                "He's right over there." Will pointed to two guys coming out of the guy's locker room.

                I thanked Will and made my way to Michael. "I need to talk to you." I said to him and smiled at Gregory (the guy talking to him). Gregory walked away and I pulled Michael to the bleachers that were set up in the gym for the band concert taking place that afternoon.

                "Sit." I ordered softly. When he did, he made sure not to look at me, but at our teachers who were chatting before the class started. "Look at me." I gave another order.

                He didn't look at me. "Why?" He asked instead.

                "Because I need to know something and so do you…" I let my voice trail as he looked at me. I looked him over and squinted. "You didn't get changed…?"

                "I didn't feel good… not that you should care." He added swiftly, running a hand through his hair.

                "Why shouldn't I?" I asked harshly. He was being such a stubborn moron. He wasn't even letting me explain before he got thoughts in his head. "Because Will kissed me?"

                At that he looked up. The pain in his eyes was too much. I knew that my eyes were glistening with tears… tears for him and everything he's been put through since the day he met me. I felt sorry for him… but I also felt sorry for me… because I had this guilt that would never go away.

                "Michael!" Mr. Nac called over to us. He was in the doorway to the gym teacher's office and he beckoned Michael to him.

                I watched as Michael stood up and ran over to Mr. Nac, listening to what he was saying.

                "What?" I heard Michael exclaim. Such words as 'main office', 'your mother', 'sister's already there' and 'hospital' were coming from the conversation.

                I walked over to Mr. Nac as Michael ran out of the gym. "Mr. Nac?" He turned to me and smiled softly. "What's happened?"

                "You should talk to Michael about that Sydney… he's going through a tough time right now… he's been going through one for a while now…" Mr. Nac went back into his office with a frown on his face… and a pained me outside.

Vaughn's POV

                Mom. The word bit through my brain every second that I wasn't next to her. Jackie was sitting next to me. Crying… wish I could cry. I wish that I wasn't so worried about being the older, stronger brother. I wish we didn't have to go through this.

                "Aunt Sara!" I watched my ten year old sister leap up from her seat and into my aunt's arms.

                "Hey baby." Aunt Sara smiled to her and then sat next to me. "Jackie, why don't you get a coupe of sodas with Uncle Ben?"

                My Uncle smiled and took my sister's hand, leading her away.

                Aunt Sara frowned when she looked over to me. And she put a hand on my back. "Hey." She whispered softly. "How're you doing?"

                "I'm fine… peachy… great…" I ran on with those words and then leaned back after she took her hand away. I sighed.

                "You don't look fine…" She was still whispering. "Your mom's going to be fine." She reassured me. "You'll see… we'll all get through this…"

                "She was wrong to do this." I whispered and Aunt Sara jumped slightly. "She was wrong and she was being stupid." I hated to talk about my mother like this, but it was true.

                "Honey…"

                'No." I snapped and stood up, looking at my watch. "It's seven thirty pm… she's been here since two o'clock. The longer she stays asleep the less likely she has…" I wasn't crying… I never cried. Last time I cried was at my father's funeral. I haven't enough tears for the people I have lost. "I don't want to be here." I whispered. I didn't want to watch as she slipped away… I didn't want to see any of it.

                "Do you want to go home?" Aunt Sara asked as Jackie and Uncle Ben came back.

                "Yeah…" When she started to get up I stopped her. "But I want to walk. I'll be fine." I added as I grabbed my jacket and Jackie handed me one of the soda cans. I headed out… but I wasn't going home.

Sydney's POV

                Dad left about an hour ago to go on another trip… and finally he fired Theresa and left me home alone… for one day and two nights. I jumped for joy.

                Eight o'clock flashed on my alarm clock as I headed into the kitchen for a small snack. It had started to rain twenty minutes ago and I looked out to the drops splashing on the window.

                A knock at the door brought me back into reality. As I walked to the door I tugged at the strap at my tank top.

                "Hey." I heard someone say and I looked up at the visitor.

                "Michael?" I looked him up and down. He was soaked. His face was wet with rain, but also tears… and he was still crying.

                "I was walking and in dire need to throw this out." He held up a soda can. The can was bent as if someone had gripped it tightly. "You have a garbage right?" He cocked his head to the side, rain and tears falling to his shoulder.

                "Yeah." I ushered him inside and took the can from him. He followed me into the kitchen and I felt his eyes on me as I threw the can in the trash. I looked up and his green eyes pierced mine. "Is that it?" I asked looking slightly confused.

                "I… yeah… that's it. I gotta go." He started toward the door but I pulled his arm and he spun around.

                My hand stayed on his arm. "I… it meant nothing with Will." I blurted out. Biting my bottom lip, I waited for what he would say.

                "Then why'd you kiss him?" Michael moved away from my arm as I grabbed a towel and threw it to him.

                "Dry up." I told him when the towel hit him. "And I didn't kiss him… he kissed me. I guess you didn't stay for the whole show because Will ended up on the floor." I smiled at the memory and looked up to Michael.

                He was just standing there. Towel in his hand, drying his hands.

                "Okay." That's it. That's all he could say was Okay? "So it meant nothing with Will. Is that supposed to change my perspective on you and Will… cause it doesn't." He shook his head and water splashed lightly to the floor. Tears would come, from me this time, cause he already had tears. But right now I was too riled up to cry.

Vaughn's POV

                I had no clue what I was doing there. Yeah, I had needed a garbage to throw the can in, but I could've picked a better house to knock on.

                Then she brings up the whole Will-kissing subject. I don't know what to think now and my brain is on overload with everything that's going on. I just want out… I want out of everything.

                "I gotta go." I turned again, this time making it to the door.

                "What's wrong with you?" I spin around and see her standing with her arms across her chest.

                "What's wrong with me?" I mused. There was so much to answer that with, but I don't think I'd be able to get all of it out. "There are a lot of answers I can tell you Sydney."

                "Start with why you won't forgive me…" She stated, clear and cold.

                "There was nothing to forgive. I was never angry at you…." I had a small bubble of anger that was making its way to my voice.

                "Then why wouldn't you talk to me and tell me what was going on with you?" She was angry too and I couldn't blame her.

                "Because I was angry at myself." I whisper harshly. "I inflict a lot of pain on myself and this was just tiny compared to how much I am right now."

                "Then why do you do it?" She's right in front of me now and I'm looking at the floor, to my feet and her feet. Her feet are bare; her toenails match her fingernails in a deep black with sparkles, they look like stars.

                "I don't know." I looked up at her and into her eyes. They were filled with small emotions. Pity, confusion, sadness. "I have so many things that are going on right now that I couldn't even begin to tell you why I was crying before." I whispered fast and serious.

                "Why don't you try?" She pulled on my arm so that we were in the living room.

                "My mom's in the hospital." I blurted and she looked up to me from her seat on the couch. I sat next to her. "Today, remember I ran out of gym?" She nodded. "Well… my mom is in a coma… she was in a car accident."

                "Oh my god…" Sydney turned more towards me and rested her hands on her knees. My own knees were touching hers and I could feel the warmth through out jeans.

                 "Yeah…" I let out a small, harsh laugh. "The doctors don't think she'll make it… they say she will… but they are all lying assholes." I mutter and Sydney leans closer to hear me. "She's done this before… just never actually got herself into a coma…"

                "What has she done?" I followed my eyes with Sydney's as she lifted her head.

                "She drinks… usually she waits until me and Jackie (my sister) are out of the house to drink… this time she drank and then decided 'why don't I go for a drive'." I imitated my mother's voice clearly. "God." I leaned back and shifted so that I was still facing Sydney. "She's so stupid." I mutter with a small laugh. Then I frown and look around, I just spilled my guts out to Sydney… wow. "She does the same thing as I do… she inflicts pain on herself…"

                I could tell Sydney was trying to deal with everything I had said. I looked at my watch and sighed. I didn't have to leave… but I wanted to.

                "I gotta go." I repeated for the third time tonight. I stood and made my way to the door, but Sydney ran and stood in front of me. "What?" I wasn't in the mood to talk anymore… I wasn't in the mood to sit here while she felt sorry for me.

                "You're just going to leave?" She looked me straight in the eye. "You just spilled out something that is a very personal subject and now you're just gonna leave?"

                I stood there, not moving, not leaving. I just stood there. "What do you want me to do?" My own anger was getting the best of me. "Do you want me to sit here while you can tell me how sorry you are? No thanks Sydney. I gotta go." Fourth time. I tried to get around her but she grabbed my arm, again. I spun around to face her.

                "You are so damn stubborn, you know that?" She was angry too… I could tell from her voice, the way her eyes lit up. "You don't listen to a god damn word anyone has to say do you?"

                "What Sydney? What do you want to say?" I stared at her. "I'm listening okay…"

                Suddenly I felt her lips on mine and that was it. This has got to be a dream, a fucking dream… But when I feel her hands on the back of my neck, pulling me closer, I know it isn't. I can't get enough of her, she tastes like peanut butter. And you can never go wrong with peanut butter… goes with jelly, crackers.

                I was so lost in my thought that I barely registered when she pulled back.

                "Now listen." She stated clearly, making sure I was really paying her attention. After that kiss it was hard not too. "One: I am sorry for you. Only a cold hearted asshole wouldn't be. Two: I care about you… I care about you way too much… and Three: If you say 'I gotta go' one more time I am going to slap you." She sighed with a smile.

                I laughed. I actually laughed. "Fine. You gotta listen to me too." I gave her a look and she looked straight in my eyes, her hands were still behind my neck and my hands were rested on her waist. "One: I don't want you to feel sorry for me… I've had too many people feel sorry for me already. Two: I care about you too… that's why I was so hurt about the Will thing and Three: I hate to say it, but I really do have to go." I let out the breath I'd been holding.

                She kissed me again, this time soft, gentle and quick. "I'll see you."

                I walked out the door and down the steps. I don't know what just went on… it was really confusing, but I do know that this isn't over yet. I have a girl who cares about me, friends who I can talk to, a sister who's annoying and a mother that I really have to have a talk with if she's still alive.

                Right now, I reach for my beeper that has just vibrated.

A/N – Better now… you don't hate me anymore… no more threats of angry mobs and pokes… well, that's good. So all better now? Good.

Next chapter… some questions for you to think about:

Why is Michael beeper vibrating? Who is 'calling' him? What's gonna happen to his mother?

There are more, but I don't wanna put all of them.

Review and I'll write some more!